Page 96 of The Bridges I've Burned

“More than all right,” Macon boasted, and I couldn’t help but notice the way Millie watched me for a reaction. “You should hear some of the bands he’s worked with.”

He’d only known of a few of them when I listed them off, but I got the feeling that even if he hadn’t, he would have still been impressed and proud.

And didn’t that make me feel like an asshole?

“That’s…awesome.” The remark came slowly as she seemed to be mulling something over. Whatever it was, she seemed to put it aside, beaming up at us. “I still remember you walking all over town with that old guitar strapped to your back.”

Macon and I shared a sad smile, remembering how hard he’d worked to get me it.

“And so you’re here for the wedding? As the best man?”

“Yep,” I confirmed.

“And you and the maid of honor…you’re both staying at Macon’s rental? Together?”

“Uh-huh…”

She crossed her legs, smirking. “You’re totally sleeping together, aren’t you?”

“Jesus, Millie.” Macon looked to the heavens like he was asking for strength. “Some days, I think I miss being the town grump.”

“Oh, you’re still the town grump, Macon. We just support and love you for who you are now,” she said, batting her eyelashes. “It’s called acceptance.” She made a heart sign with her hands.

He rolled his eyes and then looked over at me. “Ignore her and maybe she’ll go away.”

“This is so fucking weird.” I made a motion, pointing at the two of them.

“What is?” they both asked at the same time.

I looked side to side. “The two of you,” I started. “Macon having an engagement party with half the fucking town—including Jake Jameson of all people. It’s like I’m in some alternate twilight zone version of Ocracoke.”

“I know,” Millie agreed. “This place has definitely changed over the last few years—thank God; otherwise, I don’t think I’d survive living here again. But it’s still Ocracoke. People will tell you they live here to escape the drama of the mainland, but then gossip about their neighbors all day long.”

“People love talking trash about each other. That’s universal,” I told her. “It just spreads quicker here.”

“I don’t know.” She stared intently. “Pretty sure the internet has us beat.” She paused, and my heart fluttered. But before I had a chance to dwell on it, she moved on. “And you can thank Marin for Macon and Jake becoming besties?—”

“We are not?—”

She cut him off, eliciting a growl from my brother, “She made his grinchy heart grow a few sizes, and now, he’s much more tolerable. I think the fact that he’s getting laid regularly helps, too.”

“Marin needs new friends.” He shook his head, a slight grin tugging at his lips.

“While we’re on the topic…” Millie said, stealing one of Macon’s doughnuts from right under his nose. He went to protest but instead just rolled his eyes. “Let’s get back to you and Elena.”

“I don’t remember inviting you to join us for coffee,” Macon said.

“Really? Weird.” She just grinned and turned to me. “Anyway, are you sleeping together?”

I looked at my brother, and he just sighed in defeat. I turned back toward Millie.

Fine. Maybe a woman’s opinion wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

“No, we’re not,” I replied, leaning back in my chair. I took a sip of coffee and ran my hands through my hair, feeling like I was suddenly under some sort of weird interrogation.

“But you want to?”

My silence was damning.

---